M.D. Richard Yocum v. Rockwell Medical Technologies

The opinion of the court was delivered by: Hon. Mitchell D. Dembin U.S. Magistrate Judge

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS' MOTION TO COMPEL, IMPOSING SANCTIONS AND AMENDING THE SCHEDULING ORDER [ECF NO. 49]

Before the Court is Defendant's motion to compel the further deposition of Plaintiff, for sanctions and to amend the scheduling order. (ECF No. 49). The motion was filed on November 21, 2012. Id. Defendants responded, as required by the Court, on November 30, 2012. (ECF Nos. 50, 51). As discussed below, Defendants' motion to compel, for sanctions and to amend the scheduling order is GRANTED.

Background

This case stems from the alleged wrongful termination of Plaintiff by Defendants. (ECF No. 1). Discovery closed on October 29, 2012. (ECF. No. 24). That same day, a discovery motion was filed with the Court. (ECF No. 37). On October 31, 2012, the Court held a telephonic discovery conference resulting in an amended scheduling order. (ECF Nos. 43, 44). Based upon the agreement of the parties during the discovery conference, the Court permitted certain discovery to proceed. Specifically, the Court ordered Plaintiff, as agreed during the conference, to respond to outstanding written discovery requests by November 2, 2012. (ECF No. 44).*fn1 Any further disputes regarding the written discovery were to be brought before the Court no later than November 7, 2012. Id. Regarding depositions, the parties agreed that Plaintiff was to be deposed on November 5, 2012; that Defendants' employee Dr. Gupta was to be deposed on November 6, 2012; that the telephonic depositions of Plaintiff's children would be taken on November 9, 2012, and that four other employees of Defendants would be deposed in Detroit, Michigan, on November 15-17, 2012. Id.

Plaintiff's deposition proceeded on November 5, 2012. According to Defendants' counsel, only two pages of documents were produced by Plaintiff prior to the deposition. (ECF No. 49, ¶7). Plaintiff asserts that a number of documents were produced and sent by electronic mail to counsel for Defendants on November 2 and 4, 2012. (ECF. No. 51-1, ¶2). Regardless, the parties agree that during his deposition, Plaintiff identified a number of other responsive documents in his possession that had not previously been produced. (ECF No. 49, ¶7; ECF No. 51 at 6). The remaining documents were produced on November 9, 2012. (ECF No. 49, ¶11; ECF No. 51-1, ¶5). Following this production, on November 14, 2012, counsel for Plaintiff agreed that Plaintiff had to be re-deposed. (ECF No. 49-9). The deposition has not been scheduled prompting the instant motion.

Defendants assert that Plaintiff must be ordered to submit to a further deposition regarding issues raised by the late production of documents.*fn2 Plaintiff asserts that Defendants have not been diligent as there was time available on November 17, 2012, in Detroit, for Plaintiff to be re-deposed and Defendants did not make the request. It does not appear from the record that Plaintiff offered to be re-deposed on that date.

Discussion

The parties agreed that Plaintiff is subject to further deposition regarding the documents produced after his deposition but seem unable to agree on a date, place and time. Defendants seek sanctions in the form of imposing costs upon Plaintiff for the further deposition and seek relief from the dispositive motion filing deadline of December 7, 2012.

The Court agrees that the further deposition of Plaintiff is warranted limited to an examination of issues raised in the documents produced after his first deposition. The Court also agrees that the need for the further deposition was caused by Plaintiff's failure timely to produce the documents. The Court is not convinced that Defendants were not diligent in seeking the further deposition of Plaintiff. There is nothing in the record suggesting that Plaintiff offered to be deposed earlier. Plaintiff's argument that Defendants should have fit Plaintiff in on November 7 is unavailing; there is nothing in the record to suggest that Defendants were prepared that day to depose Plaintiff regarding the documents produced following his initial deposition.

The Court finds that the failure of Plaintiff to produce responsive documents prior to his deposition served to frustrate the fair examination of Plaintiff by Defendants within the meaning of Fed.R.Civ.P. 30(d)(2). Rule 30(d)(2) provides authority for the Court to impose an appropriate sanction.

The Court finds that an appropriate sanction in this case is for Plaintiff to bear the costs of his further deposition. The Court ORDERS that Plaintiff is to pay the reasonable expenses for his further deposition. If Plaintiff travels to Defendants' location, Plaintiff is to bear the reasonable cost of the court reporter. If Plaintiff prefers that Defendants' counsel travel to Plaintiff's location, Plaintiff is to bear the cost of Defendants' counsels' travel and lodging, if necessary, and the cost of the court reporter. Defendants' attorney's fees, in either event, are not included. The Court further ORDERS that Plaintiff's further deposition occur no later than December 14, 2012.

Finally, as the date by which dispositive motions must be filed currently is December 7, 2012, the Court will amend the scheduling order to extend the date by which dispositive motions must be filed to December 31, 2012.

Conclusion

Defendants' motion to compel, for sanctions and to amend the scheduling order is GRANTED as provided herein.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Our website includes the main text of the court's opinion but does not include the
docket number, case citation or footnotes. Upon purchase, docket numbers and/or
citations allow you to research a case further or to use a case in a legal proceeding.
Footnotes (if any) include details of the court's decision.

Buy This Entire Record For
$7.95

Official citation and/or docket number and footnotes (if any) for this case available with purchase.